Have You Dreamt Of A Lolita Made Of Padparascha Sapphire?
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It happened several years ago, during one of my many travels. I still wonder on the events that took place back then. I was travelling, just wandering aimlessly in a rather heated country, with my mind lost in absolute daze. I stayed at an old rundown hotel; the type to have an elderly person running the place. The wallpaper crumbled to dust if you touched it, the wood cracked and made awful noises. But it wasn't that bad of a place to stay in, the food was good, and the people friendly.
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There, one summer night I heard a singing voice, somewhere in the dark, outside in the cold air. I left my room quickly, dressing as fast as I could to get to the source of the sound before it disappeared. And so I ran, I ran and I ran, not realizing I had forgotten my shoes, frantically searching, ending at the beach. The sweet voice of candied wine mixed with chiffon and cream now had a body clear to sight. Long vermillion locks undulated softly with the breeze, frosted skin glimmered under moonlight, and big pools of cobalt seemed to blend into the crashing waves of the ocean, a long tulle dress threatened to dissolve into the sand. This girl (too young she seemed, to be called a woman) wasn't too tall, but neither was small, her nose may have reached my heart had she been close enough to measure. I listened intently, paralyzed by the beauty I contemplated. But everything ends, and so did her song, when she turned on her heel to leave I panicked and hid behind a rock, timidly watching her ethereal figure disappear. Having passed my moment of temporary unconsciousness I returned confused to the hotel.
-'-
A few hours after the sun had gone up, I too, arose from my bed. My feet lead me to the tavern to have breakfast. As I approached the place my ears picked the sickenly sweet sound of a violin, a singing voice was heard accompanying the echoing chords of the instrument. And I recognized that voice. With trembling fingers I opened the door to the establishment, my eyes laid upon her, and she was as beautiful as the night before, if not more. A yellow dress hangs loosely below her knees, her hair tied in a braid. A man with long sandy hair pulled into a ponytail and traces of an incipient beard stood next to her, evoking the musical notes from an overused violin.
I sat down and mindlessly ordered the day's special, my gaze never truly leaving them, especially her. Little did I know the special was tuna, my bad luck number; I had eaten almost the entire dish when I noticed. The only thing I was capable of doing was rushing into the nearest bathroom, the one at the back of the tavern. After expelling everything one could have expelled, and thinking I had lost an organ or two in the process, I came out, my skin paled and pearled with sweat, surely, I must've looked like a dying patient. The only ones left in the tavern were the owner (an old woman who smoked too many cigars, she may as well have been a chimney), the two waitresses, a middle aged woman (her face seemed like a nightmare) and a young miss (too pretty for this place, if you asked me), finally I caught the musicians presence to still remain here.
"Are you alright, young man? I feared you might've died in there" asked the eldest of the women.
"Yes. I am quite alright. Tuna is my bad luck number you see, and I failed to notice that today's special, was, precisely, tuna" I answer.
"Tuna is not a number, mister" roars in laughter the violinist.
The girl of crimson hair puts a hand to her lips, suppressing a laugh, as well as the young maiden of green hair. The middle aged woman (Catherine, I believe is her name) does not have the same courtesy, she too, roars with laughter, and I swear, my ears just bled from the sound.
"That is one of the craziest things anyone has said to me. And I've heard a lot" counters the old woman (Otose, I remember is her name).
"Well, I am glad my suffering serves as a quality joke" I remark sarcastically.
I hand out the money for the poison that almost kills me, as well as a generous tip for the mess I made in the bathroom, and head out.
-'-
The man and girl seem to stay at the same place I do. We became acquaintances with each other, although my interest was mostly directed to the girl. The man's name is Abuto, and the little lolita, is Kamui. They travel together performing their act, going from town to town, they were nomads, like me.
"Is Kamui your child?" I ask Abuto one day.
"Nah. The kid ain't mine. Little rabbit just followed me, and I didn't complain. Is good to have someone else's company when you're someone who travels so much like me"
"I see"
-'-
Kamui's little feet dangle up and down, she sits on the balcony of my room facing to the desk I'm working on. I write a column for a newspaper regarding the latest elections. A soft tune comes out of her throat, this happens a lot with her, I discovered. She's a very happy girl, always smiling bright and looking at everything with curiosity. We've gotten close with the passing of days; she talks and talks about the things she's seen, and I reply with experiences of my own.
My hand holds the pen, moving rhythmically, forming letters in the paper. Lolita drapes her arms around my neck and rests her chin on the top of my head.
"How come you can work so well with only one eye?" she questions.
"One eye is all you need sometimes. It'd be far worse if I didn't had any"
"Blind to the world" she hums. "What an awful thing to happen".
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Her visits become frequent, and her movements get closer to me every time. She sits in my lap as I read to her one of my favorite poems, her eyes are clouded with dreamy thoughts. I don't see it coming when her lips rest so close to my own.
"Thank you, Shinsuke, for tonight's bedtime story"
And so, her thin figure goes away.
-'-
It was progressive. A slow, but progressive chain of events, that lead to the current situation. I kissed the redhead's cherry lips with passion, as I wished to taste more of her. Her skin tasted of sun, her begging eyes looked at me with desire, and her voice, oh, her low moans were sweeter than any song she could sing. I towered above her, careful not to put too much weight on her frail body. Her lips found their way to my collarbone, and her fingertips undid the buttons in my shirt, I slid my hands on her legs from beneath the skirt, resting them on her hips, then slowly lifting the entirety of her dress. She halts, and grabs my wrists out of instinct, her orbs are wide, and she seems lost for a second, like she remembered something important. Her gaze diverts from mine gazing at anything but my eye, her lips fall shut, then they open again, like a fish gasping for air. Finally her grip loosens, and I lift her dress, leaving her snowy skin exposed to me. My look wanders around her entire body, falling upon her crotch last. Oh. My world halts for a moment. Lolita's expression is one of sorry; regret covers her gorgeous features. But I smile, and lean down to peck her lips gently, I caress her, cupping everything I'm able to cup in my palms. She's surprised, regardless, she melts in my embrace, wanton of affection; affection that I offer without need to beg. She sits in my lap, facing me this time, giving me a knowing look, I understand of course, what is it that she wants. Needless to say, her small body was a perfect match with mine. She was like a little bird, fluttering her wings gracefully, crumbling apart along with her feathers into my open arms.
Lolita, my lolita, my darling Kamui, is a boy.
-'-
The love we share in the whispers of nightfall is held in secret, hidden from external sight. My head is feverish with my love for Kamui, desiring every time more, and more. And I know that this cannot continue, or I'll hurt him. And as such I decide, with a heavy heart that it is time to part.
When he hears the news, his eyes get dark, and tears roll down his precious cheeks. His arms go around me, like a child needing support, and I hold him close to me, in attempts to comfort him.
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That night after a small goodbye party in the old tavern I go to my room. There, on top of my pillow there is a red flower, one that I recognize to be Kamui's favorite. But Kamui's favorite flower is white. This one has been painted merlot with blood, such is his love. It reminds me of Carroll's tale, in which Alice must paint the white roses with red.
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The next morning I go out, with my suitcase in hand. I ran into Abuto in the hallway, his expression seems grim.
"Kamui died last night" are his only words to me.
It makes my blood run cold instantly. The entirety of my soul's weight suddenly transfers into the heel of my feet. I go into their shared room. Lolita rests in his own bed. He looks so breathtaking; I almost just think he's asleep. But I know Abuto wouldn't get something like that wrong. There is an empty bottle of pills in the nightstand. Who could've possibly given him something like that? I held his hand to my face for what seems an eternity. I don't wish to part. My guilt weights a thousand tons.
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However I took the train I had planned on taking. For if I didn't, I never would've left. From the window, I bid my last farewells to this city, to Kamui, before his body rests on the earth, never to be seen again. I say goodbye before there is nothing left. But, oh, I took his soul along with me, to giggle his delicate laugh in my ear, and to sing his sweet songs in the middle of the night.
-'-
When my eye opened, it was as if I had woken from a long, long dream.
"Morning Shinsuke" greets Kamui.
He sits in the window sill, dressing his usual navy chángshān with white pants. I flash a tired smile to him.
"Mornin'" I groggily reply.
The window shows the stars. I remember then, that we are in the Kiheitai's ship. I strode to where he sits, and I hold him with all the strength I can muster from my numbed muscles.
"What is it with you so early in the morning?" he giggles, returning my embrace.
"Nothin' much"
I nuzzle into his neck, relieved, his essence invading my nostrils. Somewhere in the floor, lays a copy in japanese, of Heinz von Lichberg's Lolita.
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A/N: First, I want to thank KuroHanaChan for adding this story to their favorites. Also VanilleStrife, thanks for following this story.
Second, in response to reviews:
Chapter 14:
Y: "Okay, that was really cute! Thank you for the (happy) conclusion to this one!
Also, just curious, but do you ship Gintaka as well? Tbh I dont really mind the ship, I actually like it quite a lot too!"
You're welcome.
Not particularly. I don't hate it, but I'm not crazy about it. I think is a very fitting ship though.
Chapter 16:
Y: "Asdgshsja. Legit Kamui is prettier than a girl and I'm not even complaining. Sugi is so lucky lmao. I really wished that they had included some harasume/kiheitai stuffs during the genderbend arc, that would've been awesome sigh. Sugi is a girl would be pretty hot too, and don't even get me started with Kamui lol."
Yes, he is prettier than any girl. Lucky bastard. I was actually rooting for the same; I hoped the Harusame and the Kiheitai would be affected as well. They both would be hot as hell.
Sorry for the delay, I was running short on inspiration.